Rowing exercise machine

ABSTRACT

A rowing exercise machine comprises a base, a seat mounted on the base, two rowing rods pivotally mounted on the base, an actuating wheel having a shaft rod, two crank rods fastened at one end with the shaft rod, and a damping device.  
     The rowing rods are respectively pivoted at one end with the other end of the two crank rods such that the rowing rods can be swiveled along a circular path in a reciprocating manner. The damping device comprises a fly wheel and a gauge for regulating the damping magnitudes. The fly wheel is linked with the actuating wheel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to an exercise machine, and more particularly to a rowing exercise machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, a rowing exercise machine of the prior art comprises a base 05, two swiveling arms 06 pivoted to the base 05 such that the swiveling arms 06 are opposite in location to each other, two grips 07 located respectively at the top ends of the two swiveling arms 06, and a damping mechanism 08 mounted at the bottom ends of the two swiveling arms 06. In operation, an exerciser is seated on the machine such that both hands of the exerciser hold the two grips 07 to swivel the two swiveling arms 06 in a reciprocating manner to imitate the rowing motion. The reciprocating motion of the two grips 07 takes place along an arcuate path instead of a circular path of the actual rowing motion, as shown in FIG. 4. In addition, the damping mechanism 08 has a fixed magnitude, which can not be adjusted in accordance with the needs of the users of the rowing exercise machine of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a rowing exercise machine which is free of the deficiencies of the prior art rowing exercise machine described above.

[0004] In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by the rowing exercise machine comprising an actuating wheel, two crank rods, and a damping device. The actuating wheel has a shaft rod. The two crank rods are fastened at one end with the shaft rod. Two rowing rods are respectively pivoted at one end with the other end of the two crank rods such that the rowing rods can be swiveled along a circular path in a reciprocating manner. The damping device comprises a fly which which is linked with the actuating wheel, and a gauge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a rowing exercise machine of the prior art in action.

[0006]FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of another prior art rowing exercise machine in action.

[0007]FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of still another prior art rowing exercise machine in action.

[0008]FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a rowing boat in action.

[0009]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 6 shows a partial exploded view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 7 shows a schematic plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in action.

[0012]FIG. 8 shows another schematic plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in action.

[0013]FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of structural variation of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 10 shows a schematic plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of structural variation of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 5-11, a rowing exercise machine of the present invention comprises a base 10, a seat 11 mounted on the base 10, two rowing rods 12, an actuating wheel 20, two crank rods 30, and a damping device.

[0017] The present invention is characterized by the actuating wheel 20 which is pivotally mounted on the base 10 and is provided with a shaft rod 21 fastened therewith. Each of the two crank rods 30 has an arm 31 with a fastening end 32 which is fastened with one end of the shaft rod 21.

[0018] Each crank rod 30 further has a horizontal rod portion 33 which is provided with a pivoting portion 34 for pivoting one end of the rowing rod 12.

[0019] The damping device comprises a fly wheel 41 and a gauge 42. The fly wheel 41 is linked with the actuating wheel 20 by a transmission belt or chain 43. The gauge 42 is provided with means to regulate and display the damping magnitudes.

[0020] The horizontal rod portion 33 is provided with an outer tube 39 which is fitted over the horizontal rod portion 33 and is provided with two lugs 36, with each having a through hole 35.

[0021] The pivoting portion 34 is provided with a plastic ring 37 fitted thereover.

[0022] The actuating wheel 20 and the fly wheel 41 of the damping device are protected by a shield 50.

[0023] The arm 31 of the crank rods 30 is provided with a plurality of fastening holes 38 for fastening the horizontal rod portion 33 as desired.

[0024] The horizontal rod portion 33 of the crank rods 30 wheel 20, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 11, the actuating wheel 20 is provided in the circumference with a plurality of fastening holes 22 which are different in distance from the axis of the actuating wheel 20 for fastening the horizontal rod portion 33.

[0026] The rowing rods 12 may be provided at an appropriate position thereof with an expandable adjustment portion.

[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the rowing rods 12 are pushed and pulled by both hands of an exerciser, the crank rods 30 are linked to drive the actuating wheel 20 to rotate in a circular manner along with the horizontal rod portion 33 of the crank rods 30. In addition, the rowing rods 12 are radially displaced on the pivoting portion 34 acting as a pivoting point.

[0028] The damping effect of the damping device is brought about at the time when the actuating wheel 20 is turned.

[0029] The actuating wheel 20 is linked with the fly wheel 41 by the transmission belt 43. The damping magnitude is displayed on the gauge 42 and is controlled by the gauge 42. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A rowing exercise machine comprising; a base; a seat mounted on said base; two rowing rods pivotally mounted on said base; said base further provided with an actuating wheel, two crank rods, and a damping device, said actuating wheel being pivotally mounted on said base and provided with a shaft rod fastened therewith, each of said two crank rods having an arm with a fastening end which is fastened with one end of said shaft rod, each of said two crank rods further having a horizontal rod portion which is provided with a pivoting portion for pivoting one end of the rowing rods, said fly wheel being linked with said actuating wheel by a transmission belt, and with said gauge being provided with means to control and display a damping magnitude of said damping device.
 2. The rowing exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said horizontal rod portion is provided with an outer tube fitted thereover whereby said outer tube is provided with two lugs, with each having a through hole.
 3. The rowing exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivoting portion of said crank rods is provided with a plastic ring fitted thereover.
 4. The rowing exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuating wheel and said fly wheel are protected by a shield.
 5. The rowing exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said arm of said crank rods is provided with a plurality of fastening holes for fastening said horizontal rod portion of said crank rods.
 6. The rowing exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said horizontal rod portion of said crank rods is pivoted with a circumference of said actuating wheel.
 7. The rowing exercise machine as defined in claim 6, wherein said actuating wheel is provided in the circumference thereof with a plurality of fastening holes which are different in distance from an axis of said actuating wheel for fastening said horizontal rod portion.
 8. The rowing exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said rowing rods are provided with an expandable adjustment portion. 